Here is an old photograph from Badwater Basin taken in 2004. This was my first visit to Death Valley… but, I would visit the park each winter for the next 6 years. At this time in my career, I had been shooting with a DSLR for about 2 years. I had learned to recognize the importance of getting the right light, but my composition and processing skills left much to be desired.

When and Where?

Death Valley National Park is an incredible place for photography – and Badwater is bizarre and beautiful. The location is easy to find on the National Park map and is easily accessible by car. The best time to photograph this location is either early in the morning or late in the evening. To find pristine salt formation like these, you may have to walk about a mile or so away from the parking lot. It’s worth the effort!